RACE VENUE: The Solent
YACHT CLUB: HAMBLE RIVER SAILING CLUB
08, Oct - 09, Oct, 2016
The inaugural FAST40+ season came to a
conclusion on Sunday 9th October with, the fifth and final round of the
2016 FAST40+ Race Circuit.
“On behalf of all the FAST40+ owners I would really like to thank Stuart (Childerley) and Rob (Greenhalgh) and the management team. It has been a fantastic season of racing, the highlight for me was the One Ton Cup, personally there is a lot of history there. The racing has been incredibly close and getting more competitive as each race was held. Well done Alex (Mills) this weekend, and let us all look forward to next year.”
“Well sailed Morty.”commented Alex Mills. “Over the course of the season Girls on Film were the rightful winners. It has been a fantastic season, when we all look back on the superb racing we have all enjoyed and the fun as well. The FAST40+ are just so much fun to race and competing for prestigious trophies at Cowes Week, and of course the One Ton Cup, has been really special. It was nice to finish the season with a victory. The team performed really well, with good boat speed and we consistently put the boat in the right place.”
Round 5 of the FAST40+ Race Circuit was held as part of the Hamble River Sailing Club's Winter Series and consisted of six races, over 8-9 October, with windward leeward and round the cans races. The points factor for the series was 1.5 and with the discard rule only kicking in for the last race, Round 5 went to the wire. A gentle but shifting north easterly breeze tested the tactical awareness of crews. On the second day, brilliant sunshine and an accelerated wind speed, produced superb sailing conditions in the Solent.
Seven of the ten yachts made the podium during Round 5, testament to the level of competition that has emerged from the class. Mark Rijkse's Reichel Pugh 42 South, nailed Race 3 to score their first bullet. Steve Cowie's Botin/Carkeek 42 came within seconds of scoring their first win in Race 3 and also Race 5. The Scottish team nailed the pin end in the penultimate race to lead the fleet for much of the race. There were podium finished for Jonny Vincent's KER40+ Pace and Tony Dickin's Farr 42 Jubilee. However the outstanding performance came from a new team to the circuit, Heinz Peter Schmidt young German team racing Felci 42, Silva Neo, which scored three podium finishes to claim third for the regatta.
The FAST40+ Race Circuit Prize Giving was held at the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble. Kenneth Munro, Commodore Hambe River SC, presented prizes to the top three teams in Round 5. Chris Mansfield, Commodore Royal Southern YC, presented the prizes for the top three teams for the season.
“It has been a very successful first season and we are going to build on this.” commented FAST40+ Class President Robert Greenhalgh. “The first AGM has been held for the class and we now have the circuit planned for next year. We have discussed future plans including the One Ton Cup and other events. We will also be welcoming new members to the class next year, we have had a huge amount of interest from all over the world. A Swedish and Dutch team are fully expected to join the FAST40+ Class next year and we are talking to many more.”
Results from Round 5
| POS | Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Invictus | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 7 |
| 2 |
|
Girls On Film | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 14 |
| 3 |
|
Silva Neo | 2.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 20 |
| 4 |
|
Pace | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 23 |
| 5 |
|
Zephyr | 6.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 24 |
| 6 |
|
42 South | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 26 |
| 7 |
|
Jubilee | 4.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 28 |
| 8 |
|
Tokoloshe | 0.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 29 |
| 9 |
|
Rebellion | 0.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 10.0 | 32 |
| 10 |
|
INO | 8.0 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 44 |
